July 28, 2026
Updated on July 07, 2026
Background: Clara Juniper Hayes is a 38-year-old herbalist and small business owner based in Asheville, North Carolina, a hub for natural living and holistic wellness. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Clara grew up surrounded by lush forests and developed a deep love for plants and animals from a young age. Her grandmother, a folk herbalist, taught her the basics of foraging and crafting remedies, which sparked her lifelong passion for natural healing.
Profession: Clara is the founder of Herb and Fur, a blog and online shop dedicated to sharing knowledge about herbal remedies, sustainable living, and holistic pet care. She’s a certified herbalist with a degree in ethnobotany from the University of Oregon and has spent over a decade studying the medicinal properties of plants.
Personality: Warm, approachable, and a bit quirky, Clara is known for her down-to-earth writing style and knack for making complex herbal knowledge accessible. She’s an avid hiker, often accompanied by her rescue dog, Sage, and believes in the healing power of nature for both humans and their furry companions. She’s passionate about eco-conscious living and sources all her products ethically.
Hobbies: Foraging for wild herbs, tending her backyard apothecary garden, knitting pet sweaters, and hosting community workshops on herbal medicine. She’s also a self-proclaimed “tea nerd” who experiments with blending her own herbal infusions.
Why She Started Herb and Fur: After years of working in corporate wellness and feeling disconnected from her roots, Clara launched Herb and Fur to share her love for natural remedies and pet care. She wanted to create a space where people could learn to use plants to support their health and their pets’ well-being, all while fostering a deeper connection to the earth.
Fun Fact: Clara once spent a summer living off-grid in a tiny cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she perfected her recipe for a lavender-chamomile calming salve for anxious dogs.
As dogs move into their senior years, their nutritional and supplement needs shift. Joints stiffen, cognitive sharpness can decline, and energy levels often drop. The good news is there’s a well-established set of natural supplements with reasonable evidence behind them for supporting healthy aging in dogs.
Joint and Mobility Support
- Glucosamine and chondroitin: The most studied joint-support combination, helping maintain cartilage health and comfort.
- Devil’s claw: An herbal option with anti-inflammatory properties that has shown promise for arthritis discomfort.
- Turmeric (golden paste): See our full golden paste recipe guide for a curcumin-based approach to joint inflammation.
Cognitive Support
- Bacopa (Brahmi): A traditional Ayurvedic herb increasingly studied for supporting memory and mental sharpness in aging animals.
- Ginkgo biloba: Supports healthy circulation, which may benefit brain function in older dogs.
- Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil): One of the best-supported supplements overall, with benefits for brain health, joints, skin, and coat.
Energy and Vitality
- Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng): An adaptogen sometimes used to support stress resilience and stamina in senior dogs.
- Cordyceps mushrooms: Traditionally used to support energy and lung capacity, of particular interest for less active senior dogs.
Digestive and Liver Support
- Milk thistle: One of the best-studied herbs for supporting liver function, which becomes more important as dogs age.
- Probiotics: Support a healthy gut microbiome, which can shift as digestion slows with age.
How to Introduce Supplements Safely
- Introduce one supplement at a time so you can observe how your dog responds.
- Start at the low end of the recommended dose.
- Always loop in your veterinarian, especially if your senior dog is on existing medication — several herbs, including turmeric and ginkgo, can interact with blood thinners.
- Reassess periodically. Your dog’s needs may change as they continue to age.
A Note on Realistic Expectations
Natural supplements can meaningfully support comfort and quality of life, but they work best as a complement to regular veterinary care, not a replacement for it, especially for diagnosed conditions like arthritis or cognitive dysfunction syndrome.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age should I start giving my dog senior supplements?
This varies by breed and size — large breeds often benefit from starting joint support around age 6-7, while smaller breeds may not need it until 8-10. Ask your veterinarian for guidance specific to your dog.
Can I give my senior dog multiple supplements at once?
It’s safer to introduce one at a time so you can identify how your dog responds to each. Once you know a supplement is well tolerated, combinations are generally fine, but check with your vet, especially regarding medication interactions.
Do natural supplements really help with dog cognitive decline?
Some, like bacopa, ginkgo, and omega-3s, have promising research behind them for supporting cognitive health, though results vary by dog and they work best alongside your vet’s broader care plan.
Background: Clara Juniper Hayes is a 38-year-old herbalist and small business owner based in Asheville, North Carolina, a hub for natural living and holistic wellness. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Clara grew up surrounded by lush forests and developed a deep love for plants and animals from a young age. Her grandmother, a folk herbalist, taught her the basics of foraging and crafting remedies, which sparked her lifelong passion for natural healing.
Profession: Clara is the founder of Herb and Fur, a blog and online shop dedicated to sharing knowledge about herbal remedies, sustainable living, and holistic pet care. She’s a certified herbalist with a degree in ethnobotany from the University of Oregon and has spent over a decade studying the medicinal properties of plants.
Personality: Warm, approachable, and a bit quirky, Clara is known for her down-to-earth writing style and knack for making complex herbal knowledge accessible. She’s an avid hiker, often accompanied by her rescue dog, Sage, and believes in the healing power of nature for both humans and their furry companions. She’s passionate about eco-conscious living and sources all her products ethically.
Hobbies: Foraging for wild herbs, tending her backyard apothecary garden, knitting pet sweaters, and hosting community workshops on herbal medicine. She’s also a self-proclaimed “tea nerd” who experiments with blending her own herbal infusions.
Why She Started Herb and Fur: After years of working in corporate wellness and feeling disconnected from her roots, Clara launched Herb and Fur to share her love for natural remedies and pet care. She wanted to create a space where people could learn to use plants to support their health and their pets’ well-being, all while fostering a deeper connection to the earth.
Fun Fact: Clara once spent a summer living off-grid in a tiny cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she perfected her recipe for a lavender-chamomile calming salve for anxious dogs.
